Central Point man arrested after road rage leads to threats, gunfire

A Central Point man is in jail on assault, menacing and disorderly conduct charges after a bout of road rage on High Banks Road outside Central Point.

William James Ashby, 56, apparently chased down a couple and threatened them with a gun because he thought they were following too closely before they passed him, exchanging words and hand gestures, the Jackson County Sheriff's Department reported in a news release.

Ashby was driving on High Banks Road between 20 and 30 mph when Forrest Miller, 21, and his girlfriend, Ashley Taylor, 22, both of Central Point, came up in a car behind him Monday evening, the sheriff's department said. Ashby reportedly felt they were too close, so he slammed on his brakes, the news release said. Miller's car passed him and the two drivers exchanged passing insults.

Ashby followed the couple to their home in the 6000 block of Truax Road. He got out of his vehicle with a Glock pistol pointed at them while yelling at Miller to get on the ground, the news release said.

Ashby came toward Miller and tried to strike him in the face while holding the handgun, which fired, the sheriff's department reported. The bullet missed Miller. Miller pushed Ashby away and got a rifle out of his car.

Numerous 911 calls reported people yelling and a shot being fired, officials said. The two continued to argue and push each other until deputies arrived around 7:45 p.m.

Both guns were seized as evidence.

Miller received a minor injury to the left side of his face and Ashby received scrapes on his face, arm and leg. Ashby was lodged at the Jackson County Jail on charges of menacing, third-degree assault and second-degree disorderly conduct. He remained there Tuesday morning on $32,000 bail.

The case has been sent to the Jackson County District Attorney for review.